Madam, – As noted in your Editorial (August 18th) “inadequate and under-funded social services were left to limp along”. As a result, children are not receiving the care and protection that they require and therefore tragedies such as the case of Danny Talbot happen all too often.
Recently, in response to the Ryan report, Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews announced 270 new social work posts. In reality these are not new posts but represent some current temporary posts being made permanent, while other child protection social workers on temporary contracts are being let go by the HSE. All this at a time when it’s clear that these services are needed more than ever.
At the end of this year, despite all the evidence of the need for more services, it looks there will be fewer social workers in child protection than at the start of the year, and all we get from the Government and HSE are empty promises and political spin. – Yours, etc,